Dancing
to Tchaikovsky
All
Tchaikovsky Evening
Suzanne Farrell Ballet
Eisenhower Theater
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
[December 2-7, 2003]
December 2, 2003
by
Alexandra Tomalonis
copyright © 2003 by Alexandra Tomalonis
“For
dancing, always Tchaikovsky,” Balanchine is said to have said once,
and Tchaikovsky’s music certainly figures prominently in his work.
From Serenade, the first ballet he choreographed in America,
to Mozartiana, which received its premiere at the New York City
Ballet’s Tchaikovsky Festival in 1981, Tchaikovsky’s music
inspired some of Balanchine’s most beautiful ballets.
Both these
works, as well as the Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux and “Tempo
di Valse,” a/k/a The Waltz of the Flowers from The Nutcracker,
made up the Suzanne Farrell Ballet's opening night program. The company
is part of the Kennedy Center’s own Tchaikovsky Festival that will
include the Kirov Ballet and Opera at the end of the month. Washington
has been privileged to watch Farrell’s small company grow. This
year is the first time we’ve seen it at the end, rather than the
beginning, of its season (it's just come home from a tour) and, in Serenade
especially, Farrell’s group of in-between-jobs and off-season dancers
really looked like a company and not a workshop group.
read review
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9th
Annual DC International Improvisation Plus+ Festival kicks off
the weekend of December 5th.
We have a
specail forum in the DanceView Times section at Ballet Alert! where participants
and spectators can post reviews and comments, exchange views, about the
festival. You'll have to register, but it's free, and it only takes
about a minute.
Come to:
DC Improv
Festival Forum
The first
weekend will feature international artists Eszter Gal and Istvan Grensco
from Hungary; New York-based Jennifer Nugent with Bessie-award winning
performer Paul Matteson— both members of David Dorfman's company;
Seattle-based artists Cyrus Khambatta, Sean Ryan and KT Niehoff; and Maida
Withers.
The second
weekend celebrates the local community: Cathy Paine, who founded ran the
New Dance Improvisation Festival and Beth Davis, who runs Glen Echo Park's
Hall of Mirrors, along with Daniel Burkholder and Jennifer Lee Clark Stone,
both of whom have improvisation based companies; Sharon Mansur—well
known for her use of improvisation in her work—as well as Jane Jerardi
and Brian Buck, founder members of the Monday Night Improv Laboratory.
There will
also be two FREE site-specific works, one on the Metro, and one at the
Friendship Heights Borders. More details next week!
What's
On This Week
Dec.
2-7
Suzanne Farrell Ballet
Once George Balachine’s muse, Suzanne Farrell brings her
company back to D.C. for a series of classical ballet performances as
part of the Kennedy Center’s Tchaikovsky Festival. Featured ballets
include Serenade, a revival of the divertissement from Don
Quixote, and a program of pas de deux..
Eisenhower Theater
Kennedy Center
1-800-444-1324
Dec.
4 –5
Making Dances/Taking Chances: Songs of My Life
Daniel Singh, a MFA candidate at University of Maryland, presents a performance
incorporates dance and theater in his examination of popular culture and
its effects on Generation X.
Clarice Smith Center – Dance Theater
University of Maryland
301-405-2787
Dec.
4-6
GMU Dance Company
George Mason University’s dance company holds its December
concert. The concert will be held in Dance Performance Studio, so seating
is limited.
Performing Arts Building
George Mason University
703-993-2787
Dec.
5-6
Washington, D.C. 9th International Improvisation Festival
Festival founder and George Washington University dance chair,
Maida Withers, assembles another wild weekend of improvisation dance.
Featured performers include Alex Caldiero, Peter Fraize, Jennifer Nugent,
Paul Matteson, Katia Chupashko and Withers. In addition to the evening
performances, GW and other area colleges are participating in the University
Fringe Festival on Saturday. A day of workshops taught by local, national
and international professionals ends with a Fringe Performance and Jam
for dances and musicians.
Dorothy Betts Theater – Marvin Center
George Washington University
202-994-6178
Dec.
6-7
The Nutcracker
The Olney Children’s Ballet presents its annual production
of the holiday favorite. Featuring a cast of more than 60 dancers , this
is the first time Olney Children’s Theater Nutcracker will be performing
at the University of Maryland.
Clarice Smith Center – Tawes Theater
University of Maryland
301-405-2787
Dec.
6-7
A Choreography Showcase
Seven young D.C. choreographers will debut new works through
the Joy of Motion Dance Project. Choreographers include Meisha Bosma,
Jennifer Dorsey, Melanie George, Kelly Kunst, Josephine Nicholson, Erika
Schonemann and Katrina Toews.
Jack Guidone Theater
5207 Wisconsin Ave., NW
202-362-3042
Dec.
6-7
Carla & Company
Carla Perlo, Dance Place artistic/executive director, incorporates
modern dance and pedestrian movement in a performance that will bring
the audience to the dance. The performance also features works by the
Dance Place Moving Company and the Dance Place Adult Repertory & Performance
Class.
Dance Place
3225 8th St., NE
202-269-1600
—Liz
Bartolomeo
A public
service announcement:
Be part of
the process. Nominate for the 2004 Metro DC Dance Awards today.
To make a nomination, and for information about the awards, visit
www.metro-dc-dance-awards.com
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Writers |
Clare
Croft
George Jackson
Jean Battey Lewis
Sali Ann Kriegsman
Tehreema Mitha
Alexandra Tomalonis (Editor)
Lisa Traiger
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DanceView |
The
Autumn DanceView is out:
New York City Ballet's Spring 2003 season
reviewed by Gia Kourlas
An
interview with the Kirov Ballet's Daria Pavlenko
by Marc Haegeman
Reviews
of San Francisco Ballet (by Rita Felciano)
and Paris Opera Ballet (by Carol Pardo)
The
ballet tradition at the Metropolitan Opera (by Elaine Machleder)
Reports
from London (Jane Simpson) and the Bay Area (Rita Felciano).
DanceView
is available by subscription ONLY. Don't miss it. It's a good
read. Black and white, 48 pages, no ads. Subscribe
today!
DanceView
is published quarterly (January, April, July and October)
in Washington, D.C. Address all correspondence to:
DanceView
P.O. Box 34435
Washington, D.C. 20043
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